The Bee Reads LOTR Episode 2: A Birthday In The Shire

<p dir="ltr">From the heart of the Shire, through the depths of Moria, to the ends of Middle-Earth, it&rsquo;s The Babylon Bee Reads <em>The Lord Of The Rings</em>! In this episode of The Babylon Bee Reads, Kyle and Dan dive into the book, beginning as most books do, in Chapter 1, with <em>A Long Expected Party</em>. There&rsquo;s a birthday party of special magnificence, a place worth fighting for, and a wizard puttering down the road with fireworks. There&rsquo;s something very wrong in Hobbiton though.</p> <p dir="ltr">Be sure to check out <a href="http://youtube.com/thebabylonbee">The Babylon Bee YouTube Channel</a> for more podcasts, podcast shorts, animation, and more.</p> <p dir="ltr">To watch or listen to the full podcast, become a subscriber at <a href="https://babylonbee.com/plans">https://babylonbee.com/plans</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><strong>Episode 2: A Long-Expected Party</strong></p> <ul> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">Opening line: When Mr. Bilbo Baggins of Bag End announced that he would shortly be celebrating his eleventy-first birthday with a party of special magnificence, there was much talk and excitement in Hobbiton.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">The subtle magic of Middle-Earth: Bilbo is 111 years old. Frodo/Bilbo having same birthday. Theme of fate introduced.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">The depiction of the Shire -- a foil for the rest of the adventure&rsquo;s rising danger.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">The Shire gives us a place worth fighting for.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">Gandalf arrives -- we have an instigating event, a catalyst. (Kyle&rsquo;s G rune tattoo mentioned). Fireworks! Such simple pleasures.</p> </li> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">Foreshadowing of ill effects of Bilbo&rsquo;s ring and treasure -- and Bilbo&rsquo;s planned trick.</p> <ul> <li dir="ltr"> <p dir="ltr">This chapter never managed to hook my older boys, but I wonder if I tried again at their ages -- 12 and 10 -- they would beco